Got some curly questions? ​Welcome to owning chickens for the very first time or those thinking about stepping into this very addictive life style. Or maybe you are doing a project for school.

​Everyone has to start somewhere.If you have never been told, how do you know?

If you do not see your question amongst these, please add them to the comments so that I can answer them for you.

​Let’s jump into some of the most common questions I receive.

​

Do all hens have wattles and combs?

​Yes they all do. These are the red fleshy parts around a chicken’s head.

A wattle is UNDER the beak.A comb is ON TOP of the head.

The trickiest ones to see this on is the Araucana, Polish and Silkie breeds (amongst others).​Depending on their breeding, they will still have these parts of their anatomy on their heads, but much smaller. The smallest type of comb is called a Walnut or Pea. There are many different shapes and sizes on different breeds of chickens.

These parts indicate the health of chicken, helps with their heat regulation and indicates their breed maturity.​

Do chickens make noise all of the time?

Yes and No. Chickens do not make loud noises all of the time.

They have their quiet times and different noises that they make to communicate with one another.

The noisiest part of their day is usually around egg laying time.They may sing a lot before they even lay an egg, or maybe they only sing the loudest after they have laid their egg. Some hens like to encourage others to lay too, so they can also be the noisy ones.​Happy quiet talking is a sign of happy chickens, especially when you walk out into the yard, as they will get excited that you may have a treat for them.​

How many eggs do chickens lay every day?

Hens can lay only one (1) egg per day.

It takes around 26 hours for an egg to develop inside her reproductive tract in order to be laid.​The amount of eggs laid every week will vary between breeds. Some breeds lay less often.Hybrid hens (ISA Browns or utility Australorps) will lay every day, but other breeds may lay only 3-5 eggs per week.​

Will a chicken peck me to make me bleed?

​It is very unlikely that a hen will be aggressive enough to peck you so hard that you will bleed. Hens will get broody from time to time and want to protect their eggs, but they still do not usually peck hard enough to harm you. It is more of a warning peck.

Roosters can be quite aggressive especially when he is mature and protecting his girls. His peck feels worse than a hen’s peck, but his claws and leg spurs are his most dangerous part.​

What is the difference between hens and chickens?

Can I buy some chickens from Adelaide Chicken Sitting Service?

I don’t sell any of my chickens, sorry.I am not a breeder, but I can tell you where you can find what you are looking for.​

How do I catch and hold a chicken?

To catch a chicken, try to place your hands over the top of their back to hold down their wings.

Easiest method is to pick them up from head on, rather than from behind when picking them up (e.g. from a roosting rail).

Trying to catch a running chicken is the worst, so DO NOT RUN.Instead, stalk them. Think like a fox and corner them.​

Grab at the tail, leg or hands on top of their wings to hold them from flapping.

Once you have grabbed your chicken, place one hand UNDERNEATH from the chest. You should be able to feel the keel bone underneath. Your other hand can either rest on top, around them or hold the legs. If your hand is resting gently on the keel bone, they should not be struggling.

A variation on holding them upright: Turn them around and slide your hand around the tops of their legs and interlock your fingers around their legs. This is how birds are inspected at poultry shows.

A chicken can also be held UPSIDE DOWN.​This is important if you are pest dusting them around the bottom, under the wings and through their chest. It is also useful when you need to catch many chickens at once, to hold many legs together in each hand. Interlock your fingers with their legs.

For INTERLOCKING: Think of how wine glasses hang up.​

Do not be scared of a chicken flapping and squawking while being held upside down. They run out of steam quickly and settle down fast. Place your hand on their breast to place them back down on the ground.

Please do not drop a chicken. They can get injured.

Best to place your hands over the wings to hold them from flapping and place them down feet first to the ground – and then release. You can use your body to hold down a wing, too.​

Do eggs come out hard or soft?

​Eggs come out hard. They may be warm and slightly damp just as they are being laid, but dry rapidly. If they come out soft and stay soft, then start feeding the chickens shellgrit to hardened up their shells again. Chickens need calcium from shellgrit for good strong shells.​

How can you tell if a hen is pregnant?

Chickens do NOT go through pregnancy.

If they are housed WITH A ROOSTER, they may or may not lay fertilised eggs. These eggs will only develop into chicks if kept at the correct incubation heat for 21 days once laid.

A fat chicken does not indicate fertile eggs.​

How do the chickens get the chicks to hatch all at once if they only lay one egg a day?

​Fertilised eggs can be kept at room temperature for about 7 days. In that time, mother hen will hop on and off her nest and lay an egg every day. By the 7th day or so, she will become broody and SIT. This sitting produces heat to warm up the eggs. This is when the fertilised eggs start developing into chickens. That is called DAY 1. By day 21, all chicks should hatch together.​

How do you get the eggs out of a chicken?

Chickens are able to push the egg out all by themselves while sitting in their nest. No human help is required.

The eggs come out the back end of the hen. The same place they poo from.​

Do roosters lay eggs too?

​No, roosters do not lay eggs and they do not help hens create eggs. They are ONLY for fertilisation (to make babies).​They are boys. Egg laying is only for the girls.​

How do chicks get milk from the mother hen?

​Chickens do NOT produce milk. Chicks will only need water and Chick Starter Crumble from time of hatching.​

Is a cockerel a boy or girl?

A cockerel is a young boy. He will be called a rooster once he is over 12 months of age.​

Does the rooster fertilise the egg before or after the egg is laid?

Before.​The sperm needs to travel the hen’s reproductive tract to fertilise the yolks that are waiting. The shell will then form over the yolks to create the complete egg, which will then be laid.​

How do you know that the eggs are fertilised?

Eggs will only be fertilised if there is a rooster in the flock.

They have to be tested by cracking open a few eggs on a plate. The yolk is inspected for the “bullseye” which shows development. These eggs can be eaten or thrown away after this inspection. They cannot go on to become chicks because their shells are broken. Once the consistency of “bullseyes” are found, then you have the green light for hatching.

When we know they are fertile, we can assume that the other eggs that the hen is laying are fertile too. Mother hen is likely to become broody and willing to keep sitting on her eggs to hatch them.​

Do chickens catch a cold when they lose their feathers during moulting time?

​No. Chickens are very resilient. Moulting is a natural part of their life. Feathers grow back again.​

Should I make or buy some clothes for my chickens when they moult?

No, please do not put clothing on chickens!

Many people like to KNIT outfits for hens thinking that they look cute and are helping with keeping them warm.

When knitted clothing gets wet, they hold the cold up against the chicken, which can affect their health. They have no way of drying out naturally.​Ever had wet sleeves on a cold winter’s day? It wasn’t comfortable was it? Same for the chickens. They are better without chicken clothing.​

I want 10 chickens so that we can have eggs every day. Is this a good plan?

It will depend on the breed that you choose for egg laying.

If you choose a utility hybrid breed like an ISA Brown, Hy-Line or similar, you will be rewarded with daily eggs.Can you eat 10 eggs a day? Do you have family/friends who would also like fresh eggs?

If you do not need 10 eggs every day, then consider another breed that lays less eggs per week.Research which breed is right for you.

Do you want big eggs or little eggs? (Standard breed or Bantam breed)​​The shell colour makes NO DIFFERENCE to the taste of the eggs.

Won't the chickens just fly away? How do I keep them in my yard?

Chickens really don’t like to fly. Chickens have limited flight capabilities, and the heavier the breed, the more limited they become.

For a chicken, it’s more about getting up or down from perches than taking off into the wild blue yonder.

There are the occasional escapee chickens, usually of the ISA Brown breed because they are so curious and lightweight. Some chickens prefer to roost up in trees. To limit escapees, ensure that all fences in your yard are at least 1.5m tall, and that’s most properties. Wing clipping can also stop escapees. EASY.

Chickens know where the food is and that’s what they hang around for.

Can humans catch Chicken Pox from chickens?

​No. The name ‘Chicken Pox’ is misleading. This virus does NOT come from chickens. It is not able to be transmitted across different species.​

What does it mean when a chicken's comb LAYS FLAT?

​If this is not part of a breed characteristic – such as a Leghorn or Ancona (Mediterranean breeds), then it might be a sign of a sick chicken. Are there any other symptoms? Consult your vet for further advice.​

What does it mean when a chicken's comb is PALE?

​Three possible reasons:

During winter or cold days the blood flow recedes and makes the comb look paler.

Egg laying reduces or ceases during late autumn/early winter. When they are ready to lay again, the comb will become redder.

Sick chicken. Check for other signs of illness. Make an appointment to see your vet.

​

What does it mean when a chicken's comb is DARKER than normal?

​Sick chicken. This is a sign of heart troubles caused by illness. Make an appointment to see your vet.

​Australian winters are very different to the northern hemisphere, so our preparations and activities can be a little different due to the lack of snow in most parts of the country. There is always buying, selling and ordering to do, but here are a list to help get you on track for the rest of the year!

​#1 thing you DON’T need: Heaters in the coopI’m saving you money already!

Here are my TOP 5 winter chores​

Straw - bales and chopped

​Chickens can regulate their own heat with the fluffing up and the contracting of their feathers. So we only need to focus on their feet, especially feathered leg varieties as they are more susceptible to the cold when their leg feathers are wet for a long period of time. Bantam poultry need the most care.

Give them a full bale of straw to jump up onto. Place in a semi-sheltered area, such as under a covered run, shed easement, inside a large walk-in coop, tree or trampoline.​A bale of straw provides:

relief from the muddy wet conditions

somewhere to dry out

height interest

wind break

something to peck at, especially when the bugs move into the bale

Chopped straw or sugar can mulch is great for reducing the muddy conditions, especially in high traffic areas into the coop. This may need topping up throughout the winter, but will be worthwhile.

Do you need to add extra straw to the roosting area in a small coop?No, in most circumstances it can be a waste of money and increase the risk of lice and mites. However, these pests are less active during the cold months. So it’s really up to you, but it’s not necessary. Save yourself a few dollars.​Some chickens loves to perch outside rather than in a cozy coop – they are so resilient.​

Clean out the nesting boxes

​Refresh the nesting box materials before the girls start to lay again just after the winter solstice.​Sweep out the spiders.

Put down Pestene or Diatomaceous Earth on the bottom of each box BEFORE adding fresh nesting box materials on top (wood shavings, hemp, chopped straw, etc.). These powders will help to keep lice and mites at bay.​

Buy/Sell/Giveaway Roosters

May, June, July & August are the big months for cockerel/rooster sales in Australia.

The availability of hens is much lower during this period due to last year’s breeding season now coming into maturity.

Not all roosters are ideal for breeding with, so know your breed standards well before buying/selling to avoid disappointment. Breed standards are available through Poultry Breed Clubs. (Check out the directories in Australasian Poultry Magazine)​Please consult your local council for restrictions on roosters in your area before buying.​Many councils in Australia do not permit roosters due to the noise.​

Pre-Order Fertilised Eggs

Wanting to hatch your own chicks this year?

July is usually the month breeders ask for pre-orders on their fertilised poultry eggs as it comes into the hatching season.

After the winter solstice hens begin to lay again if they stopped over autumn/winter. Egg laying tends to resume by mid-July, even though this is the very middle of winter.​Fertile eggs are posted out anywhere from August to December, on average.

This will also prompt you to do a few more things such as ordering heat tables/lamps and brooders, chick starter feed and vaccinations from your vet. (www.brookfieldpoultryequipment.com)

Set up a location for the broody mother to hatch or find a location for incubator hatching and brooding until 8 weeks of age.

There are so many different ways to keep chickens in your yard to suit your garden style. A mobile coop might be right for you.

​Moveable coops are not quite the same as mobile ones. A moveable coop can be picked up and moved by a couple of people, while mobile shedding usually comes with wheels and can be moved about by one person. They are also known as chicken tractors.

So rather than talk about mini coops that CAN be moved, let's have a look at the ones on WHEELS!

There are many benefits in having a mobile coop.Other than using a mobile coop as their main shed, they are also excellent for taking to a friends place for the weekend or can be used a quarantine coop or for breeding .

Most people instantly think of the A-frame that can be knocked up over the weekend by very crafty people. But if you are not the handyman and just need a mobile coop delivered ASAP, then here are a few good ones to try:

The price on an Omlet Eglue will vary according to the outside run length chosen.Wheels are optional and are able to be purchased separately. Wheels are $100.The 3m run option is the best option for this style.​With wheels it will retail for $848.00 plus delivery.

- The bottom allows direct assess to the ground without restriction, thus allowing dust bathing.- The wire mesh extends outward to deter predators from digging underneath.- The mesh will not prevent vermin from getting in.- There is a larger coop option available for more chickens.- Made entirely from plastic, it helps to prevent mite infestations and makes cleaning a breeze!- Hens perch directly onto the plastic grate floor. No roosting rails.​- Comes with a feeder and tarp for run.- Rear access door.

PERSONAL NOTE: I own one of these without wheels and can easily move it about my yard, with or without assistance. Unclipping the run from the Eglu is necessary if moving it by oneself. If you have a helper, they can lift the run rather than unclip.

Made with a strong by light weight aluminium frame and galvanized corrugated iron. There are so many different sizes available to choose from to suit your yard. This one is for 4-6 hens.Wheels are optional and can be purchased separately. Wheels are $50.With wheels and fox proof floor it will retail for $795.00 plus delivery.​- The bottom is fully meshed, allowing for grass to come through, but not for dust bathing. (Optional - $50)​- There are no doors internally to protect hens from the weather, so the position of the coop according to the wind is very important.- Optional external nesting boxes are $170 extra.- Colorbond is an extra $50 with plain galvanized as the cheapest option.- Mesh floor upstairs - poo will drop through to ground. (Do not place water source beneath this level)​- You can make alterations to this design with installing an internal wall weather shields and add a solid floor for an extra $50.- Roosting rails included.​- Rear access door.

Made with durable exterior materials to handle the weather, they also come with an extra trolley connector to make moving this coop about so easy.

Price will vary according to your location.$729 - $879 (eg. Adelaide $779)IMPORTANT: You will need to pick up your order from the freight company in your capital city.​(e.g. Findon Rd, Kidman Park, Adelaide)

- There are many different sizes available with or without wheels. Larger and smaller available.- Dine-A-Chook accessories are also available through their website.- NO internal upper story floor, only roosting rails and nesting box containers.- Chicken poo is able to be deposited directly onto the ground, enabling natural ground fertilisation as the coop is moved around.- No need to clean with this design.​- Hens are fully protected from the elements - although no vents are installed to regulate summer time air flow.- Fox proof floor is option in the smallest version for only $29. Options for larger sheds is not indicated.

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SUMMER TIME

Please keep your mobile coop in the shade during hot days. Most of these coop designs do not have ventilation options other than being open internally.

Move them throughout the day to protect the poultry from the elements and to utilise the coop for maximum benefit - keeping down the grass and keeping it fertilised.

Also makes for happy hens to find new ground and bugs to eat while they stay safe from predators.

If you know of any other mobile chicken coop company in Australia that sells nation wide, please let us know.

Author

You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl. As an ex-Barossa gal now living in suburban Adelaide, South Australia, Janine Zschech is not only a serious chicken lady but a genuine advocate for self-sufficiency and education of children to the knowledge of gardening and animal rearing. Skills for life!